“What other option did I have?”– The effect of conflict and displacement on child marriage and early childbearing among displaced Rohingya adolescents
This qualitative study explored how displacement and camp life have shaped family formation among Rohingya adolescents aged 15 to 24 in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Drawing on 49 in-depth interviews and 16 focus group discussions, the research focused on how conflict has affected norms and drivers of child marriage and early childbearing.
Participants largely agreed that rates of child marriage have increased since displacement. Drivers included fears around protection, economic hardship, limited education and employment, and a perceived relaxation of legal age restrictions. Some drivers predated displacement but were intensified by it, while others emerged as new pressures in the camp context. Experiences were highly gendered.
Despite changes in marriage patterns, cultural expectations to bear children soon after marriage remained strong. However, poor living conditions have contributed to lower fertility intentions and greater openness to family planning.
The study highlights that many families view child marriage as a practical response to displacement and early childbearing as its natural consequence. It calls on the Government of Bangladesh and humanitarian actors to expand access to education, skills training and livelihoods to create alternatives for adolescents.